The Capital Market Authority reported strong performance across key regulatory and market indicators in 2025. Moreover, the results reflect continued expansion in market activity, deeper investor participation, and a strengthening national capital markets framework.
In 2025, the Authority completed 3,170 licenses and approvals, compared with 1,272 in 2024. As a result, licensing activity recorded year-on-year growth of approximately 150 percent, marking one of the highest annual increases in the Authority’s history. Additionally, the rise points to sustained growth in market participation and regulatory engagement.
Asset Expansion and Fund Development
Elevated market participation in 2025 coincided with a significant expansion in assets under management across funds and portfolio management activities. Moreover, assets under management across the UAE reached approximately US$470 billion, highlighting the market’s growing scale and institutional maturity. Therefore, regulatory oversight translated into strong growth across supervised funds and portfolio management segments.
The local investment funds landscape also expanded sharply during the year. In 2025, the number of locally domiciled investment funds increased by approximately 322 percent. Additionally, the total number of funds under the Authority’s oversight, including passported funds, rose by around 66 percent, increasing from 119 in 2024 to 197 in 2025. As a result, the market offered a broader range of investment strategies, supporting greater depth and long-term resilience.
Regulatory Outlook and Framework Strengthening
Commenting on the performance, His Excellency Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Market Authority, said, “The Authority’s performance in 2025 reflects the continued development of the UAE’s capital markets and the effectiveness of its regulatory framework. The increase in licensing activity and the expansion of managed assets demonstrate growing confidence in the regulatory environment and the strength of market participation. Looking ahead, the Authority will continue to enhance its supervisory approach and regulatory tools to keep pace with market developments. This will ensure that growth is supported by robust governance, transparency, and effective investor protection. Together, these developments point to a deepening pool of long-term capital and reinforces the UAE’s growing role as a regional and international hub for institutional investment.”
Alongside these outcomes, important regulatory updates followed during the period. Moreover, federal decree laws governing the Authority and the regulation of capital markets came into effect in 2026, reinforcing the foundations of the securities and commodities markets. Therefore, the combined market and regulatory developments signal an environment evolving in step with growth, supporting effective oversight, market integrity, and sustained investor confidence.
